Amherst County Criminal Records and Background Checks
Amherst County background check records are available through the Sheriff's Office and the Circuit Court Clerk, both located in the town of Amherst, Virginia. This page covers how to request criminal records, look up arrest history, and search court case files in Amherst County. Records in this county date back to 1761, when it was formed from Albemarle County, giving the Circuit Court Clerk one of the longer record histories among Virginia's rural counties.
Amherst County Overview
Amherst County Sheriff Arrest Records
The Amherst County Sheriff's Office at 115 Taylor Street is the starting point for arrest records, incident reports, and warrant checks. The office is reachable at (434) 946-9381 and accepts FOIA requests under Virginia law. Staff can help you identify what records exist and how to request copies. Arrest records in Amherst County are held locally by the Sheriff, while more serious conviction records feed into the statewide Virginia CCRE system.
For a complete criminal background check on an Amherst County resident, the best approach is to search locally and also run a check through the Virginia State Police CCRE program. The VSP check costs $15 and covers convictions from all Virginia jurisdictions, including Amherst County. You can also check the Virginia Sex Offender Registry for Amherst County registrants by name or zip code.
| Office | Amherst County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 115 Taylor Street, P.O. Box 410, Amherst, VA 24521 |
| Phone | (434) 946-9381 |
| Fax | (434) 946-9380 |
Amherst County Circuit Court Background Check Records
The Circuit Court Clerk's office is one door down from the Sheriff at 113 Taylor Street. Clerk D. Mozingo oversees the office and can be reached at dmozingo@vacourts.gov. The Clerk maintains civil and criminal court records, land records, marriage licenses, probate records, and concealed handgun permits. This office holds the official record for all felony cases and misdemeanor appeals in Amherst County.
Court records going back to 1761 are housed here and at the Library of Virginia. For older historical records, the Library of Virginia in Richmond may have materials not available locally. For recent cases, the Virginia Judiciary's online portal at vacourts.gov lets you search case filings by name or case number. The Amherst Circuit Court's information page is at vacourts.gov. Certified copies of court documents can be requested directly from the Clerk's office.
| Office | Amherst County Clerk of Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 113 Taylor Street, P.O. Box 462, Amherst, VA 24521 |
| Phone | (434) 946-9321 |
| Fax | (434) 946-9323 |
| dmozingo@vacourts.gov |
Amherst County District Court Records
The General District Court in Amherst handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and civil claims under $25,000. It is located at 113 Taylor Street and is open during regular business hours. The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court is at the same address but is a separate court that handles matters involving minors and family-related legal issues.
General District Court records are searchable through the Virginia courts case portal just like circuit court cases. For warrant information or case status in the General District Court, call (434) 946-9351. For JDR matters, the number is (434) 946-9355. Keep in mind that some JDR records are not public because they involve juveniles, so the online search may not return results for those cases.
All three courts are clustered at 113 Taylor Street in Amherst, which makes in-person research relatively convenient. Bring a photo ID when visiting any of the court offices.
Virginia Law and Amherst County Background Checks
Virginia's FOIA statute at Title 2.2, Chapter 37 gives residents the right to request public records from Amherst County offices. The five-day response deadline applies to all departments, including the Sheriff's Office, the Circuit Court Clerk, and county administrative offices. If an agency denies your request or doesn't respond, the Virginia FOIA Council provides free assistance.
Criminal history records in Virginia are governed by Title 19.2, Chapter 23. This controls the Central Criminal Records Exchange, which is the authoritative source for Virginia criminal history. The VSP CCRE program provides name-based checks for $15 using forms at vsp.virginia.gov. Sealed records under Section 19.2-392.12 will not appear in court searches. Note: Records at the Library of Virginia covering Amherst County before 1761 may include colonial-era documents that go back further than the county itself.
Amherst County Records Portals
Amherst County court records are searchable through the Virginia Judiciary system, which covers case filings in both the Circuit Court and General District Court.
The Amherst Circuit Court page at vacourts.gov provides direct links to case searches, court contact information, and local court procedures.
General background check and court record information for Amherst County is also available through the state's records systems for researchers looking at a broader set of public records.
The statewide case information portal lets you search Amherst County records by name, case number, or attorney name at no cost.
Nearby Counties
These Virginia counties border Amherst or are nearby in the central Virginia region.